Peren, May 4 (MExN): The Zeliang Students’ Union (ZLSU) today said that it is affronted by the “unpalatable activities” carried out against its president and colleagues allegedly by the members of the Nagaland Timber Trade union ( NTTU) on May 3 in Molvom village.
In a press release, the ZLSU maintained that the incident occurred when the president and his collegue were trying to “consult with good intentions about the economic blockade imposed by the NTTU on the people of Peren District.”
However, they were “manhandled” by around 100 people resulting in “serious injuries,” it added.
Strongly condemning the “odious act,” the ZLSU asked the concerned administration, Government of Nagaland to intervene before the “situation escalates and goes out of control.”
The irrational economic blockade imposed by the NTTU on the Peren district is nothing but to "serve their selfish interest, exploit forests and natural vegetation, and enhance illegal activities," it further said, asserting that the ZLSU would not let such “deleterious and illegal activities continue.”
Peren district is popularly known as ‘The Green District of Nagaland’ due to the highest concentration of flora and fauna. However, at present, the forest-covered has dwindled drastically due to rampant illegal timber operations, it added.
To promote afforestation and prevent further destruction of forest cover in the district the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have restricted round logs to be transported out of the district however sawn timbers were allowed on the humanitarian ground to prevent unrestrained slashing down of fresh trees, the ZLSU said.
Further stating that the economic blockade created and imposed by the NTTU is “intolerable,” the union infortermd that it has resolved to no longer allow any round log or sawn timber to be carried out of the district until further notice.
It must be mentioned here that the NTTU has temporarily suspended its indefinite economic blockade on Peren district on May 3 following the State government’s assurance to bring about an “amicable solution” in the tussle between the union and Peren CSOs.
